THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 21, 1995 TAG: 9505190205
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 176 lines
I attended the conference on regionalism at the Central Library of Virginia Beach three weeks ago because I believe regionalism is vital to our success in the future. I congratulate Norfolk on the successful development of Norfolk's waterfront which I have visited many times.
Scotts Creek is directly west of Nauticus and the mouth is bordered by the Naval Hospital. Shea Terrace is one of the neighborhoods surrounded on three sides by Scotts Creek, of which I am president of the Civic League. For many years we have worked on developing the banks of the creek into marinas with restaurants and public access areas. With Portside being the success that it is, we envision the use of water taxis to transport people from our city's attractions to other cities' attractions. Another major marina is soon to start construction in Scotts Creek as the corps permit is in place and the developer is in the process of drawing the plans now. A new high school is to be built at the headwaters with dredging to follow soon. The reason I explain all of this is that this area is soon to be very active with boat traffic, transient as well as local.
These new activities concern the civic leagues in Park View as well as West Park View. Our three neighborhoods represent approximately 1,400 homes. We work together on many projects and can come together to help provide a solution for location of the battleship Iowa. This is the grassroots organization that can help start the regionalism spoken of at the meeting in Virginia Beach.
I wish to follow up on an idea that I read in the Currents written by Ida Kay Jordan. She suggested the the most logical place for the Iowa to anchor would be north of the Naval Hospital. I agree! A gangplank on the waterside of the Iowa, with the present ferries providing boat rides to and from Nauticus, as well as the present stops, could serve the needs of both cities.
On the same ticket, a person could start at Nauticus, ride to the Iowa, tour the world's oldest Navy Hospital, ride a proposed free trolley or walk to downtown Portsmouth, visit art shops and Portside and then ride the ferry back to Waterside or Nauticus. Similarly, tourists or visitors to the Naval Hospital could tour the Iowa, ride to Nauticus, Waterside, have lunch and then return to the point of departure.
In other words, create a circular route for visitors and enhance their transportation needs to the point of a pleasure ride. The Naval Hospital is visited by more than 800,000 out-patients every year. These out-patients could be easily turned into tourists. They come from afar, as well as in our own back yards, and could be offered a free or discounted ride to Nauticus from the Iowa.
Combination tickets will encourage visitors to support Nauticus. I believe it will increase attendance. I will leave the details to the statisticians. With the proper advertising and directions, every visitor would be satisfied with the variety and diverse choices of tours.
I would like to see our cities come together with a spirit of cooperation and an attitude that overcomes the obstacles placed before them. We must agree that the Iowa belongs in this area and do everything possible to not let egos get in the way. This is one of the best opportunities to prove that regionalism is to the benefit of all. A joint venture will work. I will meet with each of you or all of you. Will one of you take the initiative to call a meeting of all concerned? May we govern well for the sake of our citizens.
F.E. ``Dutch'' Andrews
President
Shea Terrace Civic League
May 15, 1995 Teach the children
Dr. Richard Trumble stands for higher standards for athletes in Portsmouth. We at Making a Difference applaud him and the Portsmouth School Board. Without the standards we have little in the way of tools to get children's attention. Prop 48 certainly has done that. The SAT that scares everyone tests a lifetime of reading and 7, 8, 9 and half 10th grade math and it is necessary to be able to read and do math to survive in today's world.
Now, for Dr. Trumble and the Portsmouth School Board comes the tougher part and that is to show the district the way to ensure quality in the education process so that the students do not lose their eligibility. You do not want higher drop-out rates or failure rates. Get the help to obtain success for all of your students instead of pushing a standard as the answer when the real answer lies in the students learning at the highest level, all the students. My group knows it can be done because we have worked with Portsmouth students and athletes. The school district and you should believe you can do it, too. The standard will only be a success if you come behind it with a teaching strategy that brings successful learning to all of your students, not just the chosen few.
Hold your teachers accountable for the success of their students, hold counselors accountable for setting the students up to take the right courses and move toward success and, finally, hold principals and coaches accountable for more than a win-lose record. This is not about standards or grading scales but about ensuring the success of Portsmouth's youths.
Standards and grading scales are cop outs; stand up and teach and motivate the children. Children want to succeed. They do not want the violence, the abuse, the drugs etc. to be their life; they want to believe that you are setting them up for success rather than failure.
Coaches should not fight quality standards; fight the failure to institute devices to achieve the quality. Dr. Trumble feels people would not fight this if they believed that the education system would ensure their kids would make it, but they do not. The kids see the standard as one more obstacle because no one will walk them to where they need to go. Coaches should stop worrying about whether or not they will have athletes to compete and get the students taught at a level to survive life. They would have all the athletes they need. They will be better educated and better motivated. Get those young champions to be champions in the classroom as well as on the field. Stand for quality education, not words, and fight for the tools to get that done. Fight for ways to motivate the children and keep them humming at the top level. That way, everyone will come away win-win.
Dr. Trumble, it's time to put your money and effort where the standard is and stand for total accomplishment. Making a Difference believes in walking the talk - do you? The walk can only be spelled ``success.'' Please win this one by seeing it through to kids doing better instead of more failure.
Robert A. Bobulinski
Executive Director
Making A Difference Foundation
May 13, 1995 Red Cross says thanks
The new Red Cross slogan, ``Help Can't Wait,'' took on a whole new meaning on April 30 when severe weather tore through the Westminister Apartment complex and the surrounding area.
Immediate evacuation to a nearby school and a wait of four days for all evacuees to return to their homes meant that 61 families turned to the Red Cross for emergency assistance.
Because of planning and training together, the chapter was able to depend upon the Baptist Disaster Committee (headquartered at Pinecrest Baptist Church) for 108 hours of volunteer time, an effort which included preparing more than 200 meals, assisting with damage assessment in the area, staffing the Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle and much more. Westhaven Church of God in Christ, on no notice, volunteered and prepared 100 bag lunches as well. Countless other people called our office, anxious to help in any way they could.
There is no substitute for preparedness, and that included having the funds needed to provide urgent assistance. Thanks to our financial contributors and volunteers, 61 families had a safe place to stay and regular meals during this emergency. Some even had medical needs met, when the urgency of evacuation left them without their insulin or heart medicine.
Because of the generous support from our community, through dollars and volunteer hours, help was immediate and continuous until the emergency was over. Because of you, help didn't wait. Thanks.
Arthur V. Brandriff Jr.
Chairman, Portsmouth/West Chesapeake Chapter
American Red Cross
May 11, 1995 Well done, Shirley Gray
She was small of stature, soft spoken and a friend to many. She was the mother of four girls and one boy. Her obituary read, ``. . . she died in her home on April 26, 1995,'' but I could not let her passing go unnoticed.
Shirley Wheeler Gray was an Oasis volunteer who become assistant director and worked with the poor and needy for some 15 years. She was a kind, compassionate person whose hand reached out to many and gave them the lift they needed. In her quiet manner, she lived the words of the Gospel to its fullest.
She was instrumental in locating the building which now houses Oasis at 1020 High St. since the building at 714 High St. had been condemned. Staff at that time, (we were two) together with volunteers, moved the entire operation to its new location. It was at 1020 High St. that the soup kitchen actually started.
At first we were feeding only about 30 people a day in a small section of the thrift shop. However, numbers increased so drastically that it was moved to the other side of the building, where many more could be fed at a single seating.
Shirley Gray was in charge of the soup kitchen. Like everything else that she did, she put her heart and soul into it. She worked no ``hours.'' When the job was completed, no matter how long, then and only then was it time to go home.
Well, her job on earth is completed and Shirley has gone home. She was a true friend to everyone who crossed her path and I could not let her passing go by with just a simple obituary. I extend to Joe and her family my deepest sympathy. She was a ``jewel'' but I'm sure you knew that.
Loretta Ann Reilly
Former Director
Oasis Social Ministry
Nay 16, 1995 by CNB